Log-trimming machine.



V. I. OLSON.

LOG TRJMWHNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE" MAY 29. 1911.

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LOG TRIMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1911.

Patented 10%., 4319171".

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V. J. OLSON.

L0G TRIMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. I917.

Patented! Dec 4, 1917.,

3 SHEETSSHEET 3| INVENTOR 1H Ww'iwwwwfwfiww m vio'roia :r. oLson, ornoosnvnar. MINNESOTA.

LoG-TRI'MMIrr-e naonian Application filed May 29, 1817 T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR J. OLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roosevelt, in the county of 'Roseau and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and Improved Log-Trimming Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in that class of mechanisms designed fondebarking or trimming logs and it particularly seeks to provide an improved means for trimming or peeling pulp wood timber for reducing the logs down smaller than four inches and as low as two inches in diameter, the latter size being as small as there is market therefor.

My invention, in its generic nature, embodies a rotary cutter head having the cutter members arranged for automatically bodily adjusting themselves radially with respect to the cutter head and the log as the latter is being fed endwise between the cutters and held from rotation, or in other words, as the cutting elements rotate at right angles with respect to the gradually forwardly fed log and with the cutters held pressed against the log to efi'ect the desired peeling or trimming operation.

In its more complete nature, my invention embodies, in a log trimming or peeling mechanism of the character stated, an improved construction of a rotary cutter head in which is included a series of cutter de vices rotatable with the head and adapted for being radially shifted with respect to the head, and in which an improved means is provided for causing the cutters to freely pass over small knots. 7

Again, my invention seeks to provide a log trimming or cutting mechanism of the general character stated, which though especially designed for trimming or peeling pulp wood, may be readily adjusted for bemgused as a debarking machine for peeling cedar posts and the like, it being understood that when adapted for debarking cedar wood, the entire mechanism is made relatively larger than is necessary when the said mechanism is adapted for reducing pulp logs,

to be hereinafter explained, in view, my invention consists in the peculiar features of construction and novel combination of the parts that constitute an improved log peeling or trimming mechanism, all of which Specification of tetters Patent.

With thembove objects and other objects,-

Serial No. 17?]1'366,

will be first explained in detail, specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan of my improved log trimming machine.

Fig.2 is a longitudinal section thereof taken on the line 2-2 on Fig. 1, a log being shown as starting through the first set of conveyer rollers.

Fig. 3 is a front or face view of the rotary cutter head with the cutters and the cutter head support, the yielding cutter blade support being shown as near the limit of its upward and backward position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the reverse side of the parts shown in Fig. 3, the blade and the support therefor being near the lower and innermost position.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the separated parts of the cutter blade and the support, only one of the knife members being shown.

Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the spike lower feed rollers.

Fig. 8 is av diagrammatic face View of a set of feed rollers showing their flexible adjustment to logs of different diameters.

My log trimming or peeling mechanism, which may be used in timber yards or in the woods, in the practical construction primarily consists ofv arotary cutting or debarking means that includes a cylindrical head, hereinafter termed the rotary cutter head 1, since on it are arranged the cutting devices presently described.

The rotary head is revolved at high speed and, for such purpose, it has a face gear 2 that meshes with a train of driving gears to which power may be transmitted by a crank shaft 4 that carries a driver gear '4? held. in mesh with the train of gears, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

As before stated, my log trimming mechanism'is particularly designed for peeling pulp logs from four inches diameter down to two inches diameter, the latter being the smallest marketable size log.

In my mechanism, means are also providedfor feeding the logs endwise through the rotary cutter head and the saidmeans include duplicate sets of feed rollers or pulleys located in a plane at right angles to the direction of movement of the-rotary cut- Patented Dec. d, ilgllf.

lltltl the rotary head and serves as the means for conveying the log, as it is being peeled, out ofand away from the said rotary cutter head.

The two sets of log feeding devices are of like construction and each consists of a suitable upright framing that includes a longitudinal bed lOflandstandards 20 located at the outer end of the said bed 10.

Cross shafts 3 are j ournaled in standards 3 on which is fixedly held a longitudinally grooved roll 3 whose upper face is in line with the bed 10 and the shafts 3 of the feeding devices each have a chain wheel 30 connected by an endless-transmission chain 31 with similar rolls 50 on cross shafts 5 located adjacent the front orinner ends of the bed portion 10, as is clearly shown in Fig.2.

ne of the cross shafts 5 carries a large diameter gear 6 that meshes with a pinion on a power shaft 61 which also carries a large diameter gear 62 that transmits rapid motion to the rotary cutter carrying head in the manner presently fully explained. r

Motion may be transmitted to the power shaft 61 by a belt driven pulley 63 mounted thereon or' by a train ofgears driven by the crank on the crank shaft, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the log feeding devices each ,include a supplemental .frame rockably mounted on side standards 71. In the opposite ends of each ofthe said frames 7 are loosely *journaled long grooved rollers 727-2 and the rollers 72-72 coact with the coincident feed rollers mounted on the front and rear ends of each table or bed portion.

Forholdingthe rollers 72 to bear down on the log as it is entered between the said sets of rollers,.they are held against their cooperative opposing rollers by pressure springs 8-8, as shown.

So far as described and shown, it will be readily apparent that as the log is, fed

endwise between the outermost set of infeed rollers, they are carried forwardly through the rotary cutter devices and as it is being reduced in diameter in passing through the rotary cutter head, it is engaged by the innermost set of outer feed pulleys or rollers and drawn forward and from the cutting mechanism.

To prevent the log from turning as it is fed through the rotary cutting mechanism, the several feedrollers have spike surfaces, as indicated by 13-13.

It should be here stated that in the practical arrangement of the parts that constitute my log peeling mechanism, the driving power is so geared up that the feed rollers or pulleys do not feed along forwardly any faster than the cutting cylinder revolves times enough about the log to cut clear.

The cuttlng mechanism, the construction of which forms an essential feature of my invention is best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, by reference to which it will be seen that the rotary cutter head is formed of two half sections in the nature of annular rims 21, one of which, upon the front face thereof, has a large cog gear 2 with which the driving gear 62 hereinbefore referred to meshes, as shown.

The inner face of the rims 21 are cut out as at 2323 to form segmental pockets 2-1- for receiving the yieldably mounted cutter carrier 25.

The cutter carrier 25 is in the nature of a segmental shaped arm or plate which is curved on an are similar to the inside circular shape of the annular rim sections that constitute the rotary head and the said arm 25 is'pivotally mounted at one end on a cross stud 26 in the pocket 24, the point of the pivotal connection being such that the arm with the cutters can'be moved back with the peeling or debarking edges of the cutters substantially concentric to the axis of the cutter head, when the cutter carrying arm and the cutters are pushed outwardly to the maximum distance to allow for the larger diameter-four inch logs to pass therethrough.

A stout leaf spring 27 is attached at one end to the body of the rotary head and has gages as it is fed forwardly to be engaged by the cutting knives and the face of the arm 25 has longitudinally extended grooves 29, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3. t and 5, by reference to which it will be seen, since the grooves or'corrugations 29 are arranged transversely with respect to the log and ap proximately parallel with the direction of movement of the log, avoids the raising of the cutters for small knots.

The guide plate 28 which is normally forced inwardly within the open space in the cutter head, serves to spread the cutter carrier, that is it causes the said carrier to move out and take the required curved or circular position to aeconnnodate the cutters to the different diameters of the logs that are passed up to engage therewith.

Each cutter 26 is individually and adjustably mounted on the cutter carrier plate or rim 25 and the several cutters 26 are aaeaoo so mounted on the said plate that their cutting bits engage the log at a positive angle or diagonally with respect to the log. Each cutter is secured by a clamp screw and nut connection 32 and, for firmly holding them, the several cutters have shank members 27 which extend through and bear against the adjacent edges or coincidentv slots 29 in the cutter carrying arm 25, the said shanks 27 being further rigidly held to the adjusted positions by a segmental outer bearing flange or rim that is'secured to the outer end of the cutter carrying arm 25.

The guide rim 35 also acts as a sto member for governing thev depth the knives are ing used at the mills, it may be set up in the woods or in timber yards.

The different parts constituting the complete mechanism may be readily proportioned to adapt the same for use on timbers of larger diameter than that stated.

From the foregoing description taken'in connection with the drawings, the complete construction, the manner of operation and the advantages of my log peeling or trimming mechanism will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

While the specific arrangement of log feeding and the cutting devices present a simple and inexpensive combination of parts, it is understood that in the practical application of my invention the said ecific details and combination shown may e readily varied or modified to suit the particular work for which the mechanism may be provided without departing from my invention as comes within the scope of the appended claims.

What ll claim is:

1. In a machine to peel or trim the circumference of logs, a rotatable annular rim, a cutter carrier pivotally mounted on thetrim, cutten's on the carrier having their knife edges arranged on an arc concentric with the inner diameter-of the rim when the cutter carrier is swung outwardly to its limit of log engaging range, tension devices tending to normally force the carrier to hold the cutters to their log engaging position and means for bodily feeding the log endwise through the annular rim as the knives efl'ectv the peeling or trimming operation.

2. In a machine to peel or trim the circumferenceof logs, a rapidlyrotatable annular rim, a cutter carrier pivotally mounted on the rim, cutters having their knife edges arranged in a curved plane, tension devices tending to normally force the carrier to hold the cutters to their log engaging position and means for bodily feeding the log endwise through the annular rim as the knives effect the peeling or trimming operation, the said means including elements for holding the log from axial rotation as it is being trimmed.

3. In a machine to peel or trim the cir cumference of logs, a rapidly rotatable annular rim, a cutter carrier pivotally mounted on the rim, cutters having their knife edges arranged in a curved plane concentric with the inner diameter of the rim, when the carrier is swung outwardly to its limit of log engaging range, tension devices tending to normally force the carrier to hold the cutters to their log engaging position, and means for bodily feeding the log endwise through the-annular rim as the knives effect the peeling or trimming operation, and power trans mission operatively connected with the log feeding means and the rotatable cutter carrying rim for simultaneously feeding the log along and rotating the rim to engage the cutting knives with the log for peeling or trimming the same.

4. In a machine for the purpose described,

the combination with the rotary cutterhead consisting of an annular rim, a' self-adjustable cutter carrier pivotally mounted within the said rim and including an arm curved on an arc concentric with the inner diameter of the rim, radially positioned cutters mounted on the rim and set at an incline to the direction of rotation of the log being peeled, said head being shaped to socket the cutter carrier to provide for proper radial shifting of the cutters relatively to the different sizes of logs to be peeled and means 7 for feeding the logs endwise as they are being engaged by the cutting knives.

5. In a machine for peeling or trimming logs down to predetermined diameters, the combination with means for advancing the log; of a tf'imming or peeling mechanism that comprises an annular ring-like cutter head through which the log is advanced, means for rotating the said cutter head in a direction at right angles to the log being acted on, the said cutter head ring having an internal segmental socket, a cutter carrier that includes an arm curved on an arc concentric with the axis of the cutter head when the said arm is swung back to the maximum extent, means tending to nor mally force the said arm inwardly against the log to be trimmed and cutter knives mounted on the said arm with their log engaging edges set in circular alinement.

6.. lln a machine for peeling or trimming logs down to predetermined diameters, theniet combination withm eans for advancing the log; of a trimming or peeling mechanism that comprises an annular ring-like cutter head through which the log is advanced, means for rotating the said cutter head in a direction at right angles to the log being acted on, the said cutter head ring having an internal segmental socket, a cutter carrier-that includes an arm curved on an arc concentric with the axis of the cutter head when the said arm is swung back to the maximum extent, means tending to normally force the said arm inwardly against the log to be trimmed and cutter knives mounted on the said arm with their log engaging edges set in circular alinement, said arm having a curved guard on the log incoming side for being engaged by the end of the log as it advances to the cutting mechanism.

7. In a machine for peeling or trimming logs down to predetermined diameters, the combination with means for advancing the log; of a trimming or peeling mechanism that comprises an annular ring-like cutter head through which the log is advanced,

, means for rotating the said cutter head in a direction at right angles to the log being acted on, the said cutter head ring having a'ninternal segmental socket, a cutter carrier that includes an arm curved on an arc concentric with the axis of the cutter head when the said arm is swung back to the maximum extent, means tending to normally force the said arm inwardly against the log to be trimmed and cutter knives mounted on the said arm with their log engaging edges set in circular alinement, said arm having a curved guard on the log incoming side for being engaged by the end of the log as it advances to the cutting mechanism, said guard having grooves or channels lengthwise thereof and approximately at right angles to the axis of the log being trimmed, whereby to protect the knife edges against being engaged by small knots on the log.

8. In a machine of the character described, a cutter head composed of two annular rims each having a segmental recess on the inner face whereby to provide a segmental annular socket, means for holding the rims connected, a cutter carrier consisting of an arm curved on an are concentric with the axis of the cutter head, said arm having one end pivotally connected to the rim in such manner, whereby when expanded by a passing log, it recedes into the said socket, means tending to normally project the arm toward the log, and cutter knives adjustably secured to the arm, said knives havin their cutting edges arranged in circular a inement and diagonally held with respect to the log being trimmed.

VICTOR J. OLSON. 

